Greg H

Drove a friend's C5 Vert 1350 miles from Chicago to Naples FL a week ago. Avg speed "slightly" over the posted limit. :D

Had the Passport 8500 and the BEL 980 side by side on the windshield. Got plenty of "real world" testing through 5 states. Detected and then visually confirmed more than a dozen radar guns in use - almost all K band.

My observations:
BEL consistently warned earlier on all bands, sometimes a lot but usually a few seconds before the Passport.
Passport was less susceptible to X band falsies

Got a direct Laser blast at night outside Atlanta by a state trooper in a black squad car in the ditch behind an overpass bridge (sneaky sneaky). Was leading a pack of cars (amazing how popular you are when running dual detectors in a torch red Vette), at around 85mph. Both detectors went wild at the same time, but no time to brake. Slid over to the right lane and eased back to 75. Cop stayed put. WHEW!

Lab tests and speculation are fine, but nothing beats tests in the real world.

Any forum members do real world testing of V1 vs. Passport or BEL 980?

Z06 Quin

I tried the Bel 985 for a month and returned it and got the passport.....liked the voice alarm features of the Bel and the emergency situation warning system also.

But all of the tests that were out at the time rated the 8500 the best of the best, so I went with it

In all honesty, either one will provide as good of protection as the other, and will equal the V1 sans the arrows for $100 less......

ruking1

I have had the Bel 985 for 2 years now. I would agree that I like it but did not ever A/B test them. The Bel tends to go off a lot in X band and almost 100% of the X band alarms are not traffic related. Still I am reluctant to turn the X band off. Another thing the Bel 985 does is see pretty far ahead and pretty well behind. More times than not, I see a patrol car 2-5 min after the detector goes off. In theory by that time, I have had a chance to seriously slow down. :rofl:

I chose the Bel 985 over the Passport 8500(260-299) and the V1(400) because of the bang for the buck equation!! (215)

I used the money saved for a road trip to the casino's in Vegas and promptly won more money. :party:


[Modified by ruking1, 12:57 PM 2/14/2003]

Gaijin

I have a Passport 8500 on all my vehicle. Too lazy to swap around so I bought one for each through a period of time. Very satisfied with its performance but still use extreme caution. I prefer finding a "rabbit" and staying behind it (with the Passport activated). Just did it the other day as I was "testing" my new DBW. Got a ricer to take lead and stayed behind him about 500 yards. Got some good SOTP perspective on the new DBW throughout the LS6 powerband.
:chevy

Z.06

I have done real world testing of the Passport 8500 vs the V1. After having the 8500 for a month I returned it and put the V1 in. My observations are : the 8500 is a lot easier to live with in an urban environment. It gives great protection, but you often can not tell where the radar signal is coming from.

The V1 seems more sensitive seeking out the radar signal before the 8500. this is great on the open road. You get better information about where the signal originates, therefore allowing you to get back on the throttle sooner after false alarms.

On the other hand, the V1 drives me crazy in town, giving so many alarms that I just turn the volume down or ignore it. This is with the V1 programmed to ignore as many signals as proudent.

I am sure the V1 gives me better protection on the open highway. Likewise I am sure the 8500 gives me better protection around cities. The V1 is in my Z06 now.

backtrail69

good info

SMFCPACFP

Since so few people own either one, it is not a very interesting test.

av8or3

I've been using the 8500 for about 2 years now and I really like it.Especially
in the "expert" mode.Only ticket I ever got happened when I wasn't using it.
(very stupid) I just ordered the V1 and will probably have it next week.I've
just really been wanting to try it. Will let you all know what I think,if I don't
like it I'll sell it.

Z06 Quin

One thing I have verified and have read about from an independent test....the 8500 picks up "over the hill" radar better than anything, including the V1....this means alot to me, I don't care where the radar is, I'm slowing down......the V1 arrows sure are a nice whistle, but don't mean much in the whole scheme of things....

CLICK HERE for some interesting reading

here's a good test of the best of the best....and yes, the V1 did well, but so di did the Bel 985 and Passport 8500....but in the real world, what does it really take to protect you...so far, I've had EXTREMELY GOOD SUCCESS with my 8500....

Three Zs

Check this site. It's a pretty exhaustive test of all the major detectors. Pretty much everything you want to know.
http://www.speedzones.com/test2002new/test2002.htm

Z06 Quin

thats the same link I put in my post right above yours :p:

thefly

i have 2 V1's and love them. before that i had passport's and only arguement was quality. none of them seemed to stand up to the test of time.

Three Zs

Yeah, I posted before I read the entire thread. It's OK though, now everybody will know twice as much! [IMG][/IMG] :)

Greg H

Materials quality of the BEL is noticeably lower than the Passport. Sounds like the V1 is a notch above the other two in this regard.

Forum members that have the V1 rave about the arrows. I'm not sure how valuable this would be, since when the signal strength is high, I slow down, regardless of where the cop is.

Suppose you have a cop on the right shoulder 1/4 mile ahead. Would the V1 show a right arrow or arrow straight ahead?

Also, has anyone ever been busted by radar or laser from behind? My thought was when they get you from behind, it's by pacing you and checking your speed against their speedometer.

Somebody help me understand the value of the arrows.

Z06 Quin

Vette-Rookie posted

LMAO!!!

:iagree: :iagree: I personally don't see the value of the arrows either other than it's nice to know where the cops are.....as far as helping you avoid a speeding ticket which is why we buy a radar detector in the first place???? I don't see a benefit of the arrows in this respect.....

The Escort has served me well :yesnod: :yesnod: :yesnod:

av8or3

Suppose you get several "bogeys" with the arrow pointing forward and you slow down. Then you pass some troopers on the right lined up to do business,
the arrows point to the side as you pass but you still have the forward arrow
illuminated (flashing now). The V1 is telling you that the threat is not over, that there is another "bogey" up ahead as well as the ones you just passed.
The flashing indicates a more serious threat and of course since you're now
aware of it's position you won't resume your speed until you've positively
identified it.I don't have the V1 yet but I have personally witnessed the
scenario above and thats why I'm going to try one.It can be usefull to know
where they ALL are. :yesnod:

Z06 Quin

Yes, that would be convienient, but not critical. Mine will indicate there is more than one signal also, I don't care where they are, until the signal has fully diminished I'm keeping my speed in check..... :)

SMFCPACFP

Many of you mentioned that other radar detectors had as good a range as a V1 and I don't doubt you, but here is a story which will illustrate why no other radar detector compares to a V1 in one sense. Here is a real world example of what someone mentioned above.

I was coming home (I live in the boondocks) around dusk one evening. My V1 went off and showed 2 bogeys in front of me. Eventually a state trooper passed me, and my directional indicator showed a bogey to the side and then behind me as he passed me, but I still showed two bogeys, one behind me now and one in front with my front directional indicator flashing (indicating the stronger signal). I kept going slow (Is there another cop in front of me?).
Within 30 seconds the second state trooper passed me and now I had an indication of 2 bogeys behind me. Before these cops were out of site they both had their victims.

With any other radar detector, I would have speeded up after the first cop passed by, thinking the beeping was from the cop who passed me, and would have got nailed. This was the first time I saw tandem cops, but the V1 did its job. No other detector gives you this kind of information. If you consider the cost of the ticket and the increase in insurance rates, the V1 is cheap compared to the other detectors.

ruking1

For sure, I do not doubt the value of this neat V1 feature.

The Bel 985 has a similar aural feature (audio clicks and intensity, signal strength due to direction). In the case that you mentioned, the Bel 985 would beep/alert twice, once at the first bogey and depending on whether you are moving toward or away from the signal, it will aurally click louder or softer AND faster or slower (like a gieger counter), on the second bogey, again it would beep/alert depending on whethe you are moving toward or away from the signal. On the bogey behind, again the indication would be louder or softer based on whether he is moving up on you or falling behind. The same with the bogey to the side (a three ship scenario). But realistically with all this signal strength :smash: and multiple alerts :party: , one would indeed be messing with the bulls and to speed under these conditions, it would be surprising if one DIDN'T get the horn. :nono:





[Modified by ruking1, 11:33 AM 2/19/2003]

Z06 Quin

SMFCPACFP

The Escort would have displayed both the bogeys, and as you pass the first signal one would begig to fade as the other remains strong, indicating there is still another threat ahead.....so you see, it still works just as good :cheers: